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Student Life Blog

When is it Time to Change Careers?

June 17, 2016

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Are you struggling to decide whether or not you should keep the job you have? Have you noticed a change in your feelings toward where you are working and what you are doing? Check out these tips to help you better understand when it may be time to change careers.

1. Loss of passion. Being passionate about the career you’re in is incredibly important. Without passion there can be a loss of drive, spiraling you into a place in your professional life where you don’t want to be. If you don’t feel as excited as you felt the first days and months when you started work there, it might be time to look around for other positions and make a change.

2. Talent is not valued. No matter what environment you are in you should be valued. If a company thinks you are good enough to hold on to, they should show that they value what you bring to the table. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. If what you have to offer isn’t being valued, consider changing things up and go somewhere where your talents are appreciated.

3. Hostile environment. No work environment should ever be hostile. If you find yourself in a work space that makes you feel uncomfortable, take a step back and try and pinpoint where the hostility is coming from. Hostility may prevent you from moving forward and often creates a corrupt work environment.

4. Untrustworthy work space. Working somewhere that doesn’t allow you to be your true and best self can be a limiting factor in your success and well-being. If you feel uncomfortable or aren’t encouraged to be who you are, think about whether or not you’re working in the right place and consider finding a workplace that allows you to be you!

5. Unhappiness. Being happy with your job is incredibly important for both your success and health. If you’re waking up every day dreading going into the office or doing the work you’ve been given, you may want to take a step back and find a job that you are genuinely excited about doing on a daily basis!

6. Work/life balance. It’s important to have a balanced life, no matter where you are working. Regardless of the job you have, you should be able to have a balance between how much work you do and your life outside of work. If you find yourself spending too much time away from your family, or unable to commit to the hours of your job, it may be time to expand your horizons and look elsewhere for a position with a healthier balance.

7. More duties, same pay. If you have noticed a change in the amount or difficulty of the work you’re being assigned but haven’t been offered a pay raise, it may be time to re-evaluate your position. If your managers are expecting more from you and what you are doing at work, consider speaking up, or changing environments and careers to ensure you are being paid fairly for the quality and quantity of work you are completing.

If any of these factors are casting a shadow over your professional life, it’s time to make a change – whether it’s talking to management, applying for a new position, or making a change to a completely new career. Weigh your options carefully, but at the end of the day you should leave work feeling proud of the work you’ve done and excited about going back the next day!